The Fashion Families of Neu York
On the eve of our Neu York pop-up — think Big Apple souvenirs with a Highsnobiety twist — our team took a look back at some of our favorite labels whose teams operate like families to produce top-tier, luxury-streetwear crossover collaborations. It just so happens that these labels are also some of Highsnobiety’s own latest collaborators…
Founded by its namesake, the queer Mexican-American designer with working-class roots, the ethos of the Willy Chavarria label is sewn right into the clothing — literally. “Capitalism is heartless” reads the now infamous green tab stitched onto Chavarria garments, roughly 60 percent of which on the luxe end were made by hand, Chavarria estimates.
And the energy behind the brand is, some say, as important as what it produces. “The clothes, as amazing as they are, often feel secondary to the people and places we highlight,” says stylist Marcus Correa. Another core aspect is its internal community, where the brand values projected are lived out in real time. “My biggest takeaway from being a part of this company has been allowing myself to embrace a sense of individuality that was personally very empowering,” says assistant designer, Veska Naratama. “Throughout my time working at Willy Chavarria, I have felt the love of many different people finding a home in a project that creates a sense of community.”
Initially dubbed “streetwear” by early coverage of the brand, the Chavarria label is expansive, and has taken on a diverse range of garment genres. Through collaborations with brands like Pro Club and Dickies, Chavarria can offer reasonably-priced pieces alongside made-to-order tailoring, making its situation in the market effortlessly singular.
The accessibility, expansiveness of its aesthetic reach, and the quality of each item all stem from the same thing: the authentic vision of the team. “The inclusivity and family vibe is not a season-to-season gimmick. It’s in the blood of the brand,” says show director, Marlon Taylor-Wiles. “When together, it is pure magic... Everyone is in the zone, and there is this beautiful synergy where the whole team is participating in real-time in this really important world unfolding. Willy, at the center of this all, is the driving force,” says Casting Director And Photographer Brent Chua. “The biggest thing I’ve learned since joining is to work hard till you manifest all your dreams,” says hairstylist Sofia Garcia. “Being born in Mexico and coming to the USA at seven, I think seven-year-old me would be proud.”
For le PÈRE, the medium for its designers’ (and music and fashion execs) expression just so happens to be clothes. Existing somewhere between luxury and so-called streetwear, a le PÈRE piece might mean football kits created in collaboration with graphic designer Bráulio Amado, or wrestling-inspired graphics by Cherry Kim. In the brand’s own words, it’s “a canvas for creatives to express their work through clothing.” In other words: you never know whats coming next from Le PÈRE. “I want a designer to make me fall in love with something I never saw coming,” Ryan Wright, CEO and Founder; “to take me to a fantasy that I didn’t have the address for. That’s where we started with le PÈRE. As a house of collaborations, we work with designers and artists that inspire us across all different mediums, nations, ages, genders, and backgrounds. There is no mold — our collaborations are wildly eclectic and emotionally charged. I think it’s that emotion — the creator’s individual signature in every piece — that makes le PÈRE so unique.”
When the illustrator and designer, Bráulio Amado, first met le PÈRE, he knew there was “good creative energy in the air.” He feels lucky to be able to work with the brand. “It feels like they are doing things right, and we all belong to a big, happy family.”
Another key ingredient in the New York-based brand’s output is genuine care, which translates are a meticulous approach and high-quality output. exchange between the brand and its creative partner on every item. “I found le PERE's collaborative approach to designing garments as a creative community to be quite rare” says design director Samuel Choi. “There is a real joy in deliberately setting aside your point of view to be inspired by the community around you. A serendipitous moment of surprise that really pushes the brand mission forward.”
“Our design process is aimed at being as sustainable as possible,” says Maria Turano, Head of Operations and Production. “We seek to only make what we love, and about 99 percent of what we sample goes into production. We truly value what we make and want our customers to feel the same.”
Highsnobiety's Neu York has arrived. Including a pop-up store, limited-edition brand collaborations, events and exclusive content, it's a multimedia celebration of the Big Apple. Explore the series here and shop the collection from September 8 online and in store.
